Saturday, May 22, 2010

Past week has been crazy! Work-wise, I mean. Don't you always feel like there are so many things to do and so little time. My library books are waiting patiently for me to pick them up. My 3/4th done knitted summer vest is still on the hooks and summer is so fast approaching (guess I should just add sleeves and make it a winter vest, ha!). My brand new painting stand is waiting for its inauguration AND I am having more and more late evening urges to just order a quick dinner outside. Life just seems to be on fast track sometimes.. and this sure seems like one of those times.

I don't know about you but sometimes I wonder how we get so tangled up in the walls made out of our own expectations and lure of luxuries. Every time I read a Jane Austen novel it always makes me feel so nostalgic about the good old days when people had time. Loads of it. Time to pursue their hobbies and passions. They seemed to live their life just wonderfully and perhaps, in a more relaxing way. They had time for afternoon tea get-togethers; English sandwich and biscuit knitting parties and what-nots. Why is it then that in our generation we seem to just struggle so much: we are working after-hours; we are doing all the house-chores ourselves and the time still seems to just pass away while we are merely putting things together. Is this the trade-off we have signed up for in return for the newest iPads, iPhones and large screen TVs?

Anyway, I digress. So a crazy week needs a perfect weekend to balance. And what better way than to cook up some salsas and guacomoles and make an impromptu taco night! Which is exactly what I did last night. Today I am sharing two of my favorite salsa recipes. Salsas come in various forms and flavors; there is the simple salsa fresca (or pico de galla) which is made out of all the fresh ingredients; then there is green tomatillo salsa; then there is cooked tomato salsa and then roasted tomato salsa and so on. The ones I am sharing today are two of my favorite salsas.

Ingredients and proportions are mere a guideline. Dress it up as you like it!

Recipe: Salsa Fresca

Ingredients:

2 fresh ripe tomatoes

1/2 jalapeno pepper

1/4 large red onion

1Tbsp finely chopped cilantro

juice of 1lime

pinch of dried oregano

salt

Recipe:

Cut the tomatoes into quarters and remove the veins and the seeds. Finely chop the tomatoes, red onions.

Cut the jalapeno pepper into halves. Remove the seeds and the veins and chop the flesh finely.

Mix all the ingredients together.

Taste and adjust the seasonings.

Let it sit for a an hour or so for the flavors to blend together before serving.

Recipe: Roasted tomato salsa

Ingredients:

1can fire roasted and diced tomatoes

1 small can fire roasted chilis

1/4 large red onion - finely chopped

1tsp red wine vinegar

1tsp olive oil

juice of 1/2 lime

pinch of dried oregano

1Tbsp finely chopped cilantro

salt

Recipe:

Mix everything together in a bowl. Taste and adjust the seasonings per taste.

wow...thats quite a bit of activity packed days ahead...painting and knitting eh? not bad..i completely adore people who are so creative in a lot of ways...i unfortunately have no patience for anything:(I love a taco salsa 'meal' anytime...

You're right about fast track of our life! Don't know where and when we ever will stop this? Ahh...I am zero about crocheting and knitting. I really wud like to learn it asap. Hope you'll find plenty of time to enjoy ur hobbies. :)Ah! both salsa recipe is so easy peasy. beautiful click, PJ! :)

The salsas looks mouthwatering, it must have been great with tortilla's. That's true PJ nowadays people don't find time for anything, such a busy and stressful life, bang bang working, we never know where it will end.

A couple of nice salsas you have there. You just can beat the taste of fresh salsa. I love the photos too. I like making the salsa verde with tomatillos.

I think the only way the had a lot of free time in those days are if the had help with housework. I know there was a time when they would keep the kids out of school on laundry days so they could help. Otherwise it tooks days. If they didn't have a maid, I think they probaby had to work sunrise to sunset. Look at all the conveniences we have, our problem today is everyone wants things now...this instant, pronto! Just saying... :D

Parita, crazy crazy work schedules.. when will we ever get free times :)

Umm, so true.. we are all just so stressed and sometimes i wonder for what.

Lyndsey, salsa verde is my favorite too. i am waiting for summer so i can buy some nice tomatillas. you know, i think you are right. If we did have help with houswork there would definitely be more time left to do more interesting stuff!

Treat and Trick, thanks! I am so glad you liked the salsas and the click.

PJ, you are so correct. There is simply no time so I have taken to do 2 things at the same time watch TV and read the newspaper, cook and read a book etc. I spend so much time blogging and surfing other blogs which in itself is not of much use but it gives me pleasure. That should count for something. We win some lose some. Life!!!

As for the salsa I do both of them but with slight variations but the Fresca is a must for our impromptu burrito meals but I skip the onions.

Can totally understand how busy we get sometimes ... even I feel Life is running too fast and I'm just trying to catch up with it ! There are so many things I start off and are still lying and pleading me to finish them off !

Yupp...life is pretty busy and sometimes so stressful! I love Jane Austen. Characters seem to be enjoying life. They take a stroll while reading a book or take a turn in the room with a companion! Waiting to see your new painting, been a long time you have showed us ur canvas.

I think about these things too....late at night when Im exhausted and wondering why I try to do about these things which I want to but may not be actually necessary - he jazz dance classes, the blog, the cooking- but thats who we are. If we love what we do, whether its our work or hobbies, then we should do it. If it doesnt make us happy we should try to find something else that will make us happy.

Just came back after lunch at a Mexican joint and how nice to see this recipe. I crochet and haven't done anything since spring because I work with wool and its too hot here to even look at wool right now. Jane Austen... one of my favorites and I so agree that life seemed to have so much more quality. Sitting under the tree and reading poetry or going on a picnic and playing word games with neighbors and friends. I don't think it will ever be the same.

Dear PJHow are you? It is long since I visited your blog. I did not receive any blog posting intimation from your blog. So again I have put myself as your follower.Very nice recipe< I love salsa after a long stay in Milano. I can see you have posted many recipes,,need to catch up.I liked your write up specially running out of time..ha ha. Really there is not enough time, in one's life time, to do every thing we like to do. Well I can say, if we can do 10% of every thing we wanted to do, it will be a life time achievement..so keep laughing and do whatever you can manage to do..there is no end to it..Have a nice weekend

I wish I was like u PJ with lots of things to do and no time.I am having loads of time and have very little to do inspite of the fact that i am in india for vacation.Can't peep out coz its soooo hot and can't sit in front of the PC for too long..sigh...anyways ur salsas look so great,the roasted tomato one looks fabulous!!!!

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This page and all of its contents is copyright of Prajakta Gudadhe. All rights reserved.

This is a web catalog of the recipes that I have tried and tasted in my kitchen. While these recipes and instructions have worked well for me, please use all the information and the recipes from Ginger and Garlic at your own risk.